A-levels: education gap 'widening'

The education gap has widened in the last year as pupils from fee-paying
schools pull ahead of those in state schools.

Figures show the number of A grades gained by privately-educated teenagers increased by more than two per cent this year. The rise was at least twice that achieved in state comprehensives, grammar schools or colleges.

In all, more than half of A-level entries in independent schools were graded an A – the first time the number of top marks has exceeded 50 per cent.

The disclosure will reignite fears that state schools are being left behind by the private sector as pupils from relatively wealthy backgrounds dominate places at the best universities.

Gordon Brown has already pledged to narrow the gap in funding between the two sectors, saying the “long-term aim” was to ensure all children enjoyed the “educational support now available to just 10 per cent”. Education funding has increased by £28 billion a year under Labour.

However, the latest figures suggest 16 to 18-year-olds in the state system are falling behind, with even pupils from state-funded grammar schools failing to keep pace with those in the private sector.

The Joint Council for Qualifications published results for 320,000 teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Thursday.

Currently, around seven per cent of pupils are privately-educated.

Figures showed more than half of A-level entries in private schools was graded A while 90 per cent were awarded at least a C.

By comparison, 20 per cent of pupils in comprehensive schools gained an A and just under four in 10 of those in state grammars got top marks. Around 70 per cent of papers sat in comprehensives and just over 85 per cent taken in grammar schools got at least a C.

Figures also show private school pupils were more likely to study many subjects which are in huge demand among universities and employers, increasing their chances of getting top jobs.

They accounted for around a quarter of entries in languages, further maths, economics and some of the science courses. At the same time, private pupils were under-represented in entries for media studies, the performing arts, computing, critical thinking and communication studies.

Some universities – including Cambridge – have already announced they cannot accept pupils applying after studying large numbers of less rigorous courses at school.

Richard Cairns, the headmaster of fee-paying Brighton College, said: “All universities should follow Cambridge’s lead in outlining which A-level subjects are unsuitable as a preparation for a degree course at a leading university. Their failure to be honest with schools is condemning the many children in state schools who choose to study media studies over mathematics at A-level to inevitable rejection by Oxford or Imperial four terms later.”

New figures from CILT, the National Centre for Languages showed that 23 per cent of acceptances to university language courses came from the independent sector.

But Ian Wright, the Schools Minister, insisted that there was no such thing as “tough” or “soft” subjects.

“The bottom line is that post-16 education is no longer the preserve of the elite and privileged few – more students than ever before are carrying on studying until 18,” he said. “This September will see more young people than ever before starting higher education. This is a transformation in education participation and attainment which should be a cause for celebration not criticism.”